Speed matching device for flying splicer



March 3, 1964 HQRNBQSTEL, JR 3,123,316

SPEED MATCHING DEVICE FOR FLYING SPLICER Filed April 16, 1962 E Z? L nuPuzxz '1 a INVENTOR. Zfaya flarvziasielb A TTORNE YS United StatesPatent 3,123,316 SPEED MATCHING DEVICE FUR FLYING SPLICER LloydHornlrostel, .lr., Beloit, Wis., assignor to Beloit Corporation, Beloit,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,571Claims. (Cl. 242--58.4)

The present invention relates to improvements in mechanisms formeasuring the surface speed of rotating rolls of different sizes inpaper machines, and more particularly to a machine which forms a flyingsplice for continuous unwinding by splicing the lead end of a fresh rollto the web from an expiring unwinding roll without stopping theunwinding operation.

In splicing machines it is essential that an equal surface speed beobtained between the surface of the fresh roll and the moving unwindingweb so that a reliable splice can be formed. In a paper Winding machine,very high speeds of travel of the unwinding web are utilized as the webis fed away from the unwinding parent roll to a paper receiving locationsuch as to be slit and rewound on smaller rolls. The unwinding web ispaid off the parent roll until the roll is nearly empty. The lead end ofa fresh roll is then spliced to the moving web for continuous,uninterrupted unwinding operation. The flying splice is accomplished byproviding an adhesive lead end on the web on the fresh roll and when themoving unwinding web is pressed against the surface of the fresh roll,the adhesive lead end automatically forms a splice to break from thefresh roll and follow the travelling web.

It is necessary that the flying splice be reliably made, and if the leadend of the web from the fresh roll becomes detached at high speeds ofweb travel, the machine will become jammed and disastrous results oftenoccur which can damage the machine and prove dangerous to operatingpersonnel. An essential factor in forming a reliable flying splice isthe obtaining of accurately equal surface speeds between the travellingweb surface and the surface of the fresh roll.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved device for measuring the circumferential speed of successiverolls of varying diameters reducing the inconveniences and difficultiesencountered in devices of the types heretofore used for measuring thesurface speed of rolls.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved speedmeasuring device for measuring the surface speed of successive rolls ofdifferent diameters in a paper machine which is supported on the machineand avoids the necessity of providing markings on the rollcircumference.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved devicewhich accurately measures the linear speed of the circumference of aroll automatically taking into account its diameter, and providing anoutput of surface speed which permits varying the speed of the rolluntil it equals the surface speed of a travelling web in order to form asafe and secure flying splice.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device formeasuring the surface speed of rotating rolls in a paper machine whichis rapidly positionable as a function of the diameter of the roll, andwhich measures the time duration between the edges of a radial sector ofa rotating disc which revolves with the roll.

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent withthe teachings of the principles of the invention in connection with thedisclosure of the preferred embodiments in the specification, claims anddrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view shown largely 3,1233% PatentedMar. 3, 1964 ice in schematic arrangement of one end of a roll and 'aspeed measuring mechanism in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 11-11 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration, with portions omitted for clarity,of a splicing mechanism operating in accordance with the presentinvention.

As shown on the drawings:

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, a wound paper roll 10 having an outercircumferential surface 11 and wound on a core 12 is supported prior tounwinding. The hollow core 12 is supported on a core shaft or coresupport which is removably supported at its ends by a drive shaft 13.The roll may be supported in various ways and usually is carried on acore support which is removably attached to support shafts at its endswhich are carried in bearings, with the core support being removablefrom the shafts, and being carried into position by an overhead crane.The core support may have stub shafts at its ends to be directlysupported in bearings with a drive shaft connectable to the core shaft.In a present preferred arrangement it is contemplated that the shaft 13will be permanently mounted in support bearings 14 and will carry a disc27 permanently on the shaft 13 to be used with successive paper rolls.The disc 27 could be applied to individual rolls, but for reasons whichwill become more apparent a single disc mounted on the machine willadvantageously operat as part of the speed measuring combination foraccurately measuring the speed of successive rolls which may be ofdifierent diameters. The accurate measurement of speed is used to obtaina periph eral speed of the outer surface 11 of the roll which is thesame as the speed of a travelling web W for splicing the lead end ofpaper wound on the roll 10 to the surface of the web W.

Speed of the roll 10 is varied by a drive 15 which may include avariable speed motor with braking mechanism and these are controlled bythe operator until the speed of the roll surface is the same as thelinear speed of the travelling web W.

On the outer surface 11 of the roll 10, FIGURE 3, the lead end of thepaper on the roll carries an adhesive 16 and is lightly tacked to theroll so that it will break loose when the adhesive attaches to the websurface. The travelling web W is carried on guide rolls i17 and 18, andthe flying splice is performed by a splice roll 19 which at the propertime is pushed radially toward the roll 10 by a fluid pressure cylinder20. Various arrangements may be employed for this operation as will beappreciated by those versed in the art, and the structural details neednot be shown. There may be, for example, a piston within the cylinder 20loaded by fluid pressure built up behind it, and the piston rod may belatched in the position shown, with the latch released at the time thesplice is to be made. As soon as the splice is made a knife 21immediately cuts the web W so that the run then pays off the new roll10.

Suitable means are provided for measuring the linear speed of travel ofthe Web W such as by a tachometer 23 which is labelled as tachometer B.This will provide a reading indicative of the linear speed of the web,and a device which is known as a rotopulser may be employed connected tothe end of the guide roll 17. A tachometer 22 provides a reading of thelinear speed of the outer surface of the roll 10 and this tachometer islabelled as tachometer A. .While it is contemplated that thetachorneters 22 and 23 will give visual readings so that the operatorcan manually increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the roll 10until the exact desired surface speed is reached, this may also be doneautomatically such as by feeding the outputs of the tachometers to anelectrical comparing device, and the comparing device feeds the signalto an amplifier which is used to control the variable speed driveelectrically until the two tachometer outputs are the same. Thetachometer signals for such electrical comparison may be in the form ofa signal which varies in amplitude with speed or varies in frequencywith speed, and electrical comparing devices for controlling the speedof the roll and obtaining uniform speed output signals will be known tothose versed in the art and need not be further described in detail.

For obtaining a signal which manifests the speed of operation of thesurface of the roll 10, a pulse producing means is provided whichmeasures the arcuate length of a segment of the disc 27 in terms of thetime required for the segment to pass a pulse measuring device. For thispurpose a light sensitive cell 24 is provided which produces a pulse asradial slots 25 and 26, FTGURE 2, pass the light sensitive receiver 24.The pulse which is measured is the pulse generated by the solid portion27a, with its beginning marked by the radial slot 25 and its end markedby the radial slot 26. The time required for this pulse is measured by apulse counter 28 which is of a construction commercially available andknown to those versed in the art and need not be described in detail.The output of the pulse counter 23 is fed to the tachometer 22 for avisual reading by the operator.

A light source for the light sensitive receiver 24 is provided by alight 29, and the receiver 24.- is positioned behind an opening 30 whichis kept clear of obstacles by a flow of air supplied by a line 31.

In accordance with the invention the pulse measuring means in the formof the receiver 24 is positioned at a radial position which is relatedto the diameter of the roll. That is, for each roll the receiver 24 ispositioned in a radial location which is a function of the rolldiameter. The arcuate length which is measured of the segment 27a of thedisc 27 will change in length in direc proportion to the change inlength of the circumference of the roll 1& as the diameter of the rollchanges, and therefore an output signal is produced which is a directindication of the speed of rotation of the rol. To accommodate rolls ofdifferent sizes a disc 27 is provided of a diameter larger than thelargest roll to be accommodated, and the lengths of the slots 25 and 26are such that the outer surfaces 11 of all rolls to be handled will fallwithin the limits of the slot ends.

The pulse measuring means or receiver 24 is mounted on a radiallymovable carrier 33. The carrier has a U-shaped bracket with an arm 34-axially outwardly of the disc 27 supporting the receiver 24. An arm 35is axially inwardly of the disc and supports the light source 27 andalso supports a roll surface sensor which controls the position of thecarrier 33 for a reading.

The carrier is supported on a piston rod 36 having a piston slidable ina cylinder 37 provided with a controlled air supply 3711 at its lowerend. The piston rod also has a lock 38 which may take various forms andfor simplicity may be assumed to employ an air actuated piston within acylinder which moves against the piston rod 36 to lock it. For thispurpose an air supply is directed to the lock 38 controlled by anelectrical valve 39 from an air pressure source 4%. The valve 39' isopened to actuate the lock by a switch 41 having leads 42 which connectto similar leads on the valve 39. When the valve is deenergized byopening the switch 41, the lock will be vented to release the carrier33.

For loading a fresh roll into the machine on the shaft 13, the carrieris moved upwardly to its outermost radial position and held in thatposition by the lock 33 while a fresh roll is brought into place.

The carrier 33 is then brought radially inwardly by releasing the shaft36 and relieving air from the lower end of the cylinder 37. A sensorpaddle 44a will then engage the outer surface #11 of the roll lit. Thepaddle is carried on a plunger rod 44 having a plunger piston 43 securedthereto slidable in a cylinder 46. When the carrier is moved inwardly,the lower end of the cylinder 46 is vented through a line 45 connectedto its lower end, so that the plunger piston 43 will be in its lowermostposition 43a. When the paddle 44a engages the outer surface 11 of theroll, the plunger 44 is moved upwardly and its upper end engages theswitch 41. As soon as this occurs the lock 38 is actuated to hold thecarrier in this position. This radial position will then be the locationat which the signal is read, and the position 'will have been selectedas a function of the diameter of the roll 10.

To move the paddle 43 away from the roll surface, air is admittedthrough a line 45 beneath the plunger piston 43 to raise it up to thedotted line position 4%, and this permits the roll 1 h to turn freely.

The plunger rod 44 can also be utilized to operate the switch 4 1 andlock the carrier at its upper radially outermost position while themachine is being loaded with a fresh roll, by admitting air through aline '45 beneath the plunger piston '43. The carrier is raised to itsretracted position for such loading by admitting air through a line 37abeneath the piston within the cylinder 37, and this air pressure willnormally be adequate to hold the carrier out of the way, and the lock 33may be utilized as a safety measure.

In summary, a roll it? is loaded into the unwinding machine, and thecarrier 33 is moved inwar ly until the paddle 43 engages the outersurface 11 of the roll to actuate the switch 41 in order to operate thelock 33, which establishes the reading position for the receiver 24. Theroll is then brought up to speed by the variable speed drive 15, FIGURE3, and the speed is controlled by comparing the reading of thetachometer 22 which indicates roll surface speed with the reading of thetachometer 23 which indicates Web surface speed. When the two speeds areequal, a flying splice is made by moving the splice roll 19 against theweb to force it against the outer surface of the roll 10.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved speed measuringdevice for a flying splice machine which meets the objectives,advantages and features above set forth. The device avoids the necessityof preparing the roll, and the disc 27 serves for rolls of differentdiameters without any preparation of the roll or machine.

While a preferred form of pulse producing means is illustrated, it willbe recognized that other pulse producing arrangements may be employedsuch as utilizing radial magnetic lines with a magnetic sensing head fora receiver. lso, a pair of slots with a solid portion therebetween isadvantageous in providing a short pulse, and the radial lines arepreferably 15 apart in some instances a radial sector shaped slot oropening could be employed. Also in some instances a single slot could beused with the time duration measured between passage of the slot but theinstant arrangement is substantially preferred in obtaining accuracy ofreadings and providing a device which is easily manufactured and used.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of thepreferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but coversall modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methodsfalling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mechanism for determining the surface speed of rotating rolls ofdifferent diameters in a paper machine having means for rotating therolls comprising,

a support mounting a roll for rotation about its axis,

a rotatable member rotating with the roll,

and means for measuring the time duration for a circumferential lengthof a radial sector of the member to pass a speed measuring locationhaving a predetermined radial position located radially as a function ofthe diameter of the roll.

2. A mechanism for measuring the linear surface speed of rotating rollsof difierent sizes in a paper machine having means for rotating therolls comprising,

first and second pulse producing elements extending radially from theaxis of the roll and rotatable with the roll,

pulse signal means for generating a signal as said elements pass inrotation,

and means for positioning said signal means as a function of thediameter of the roll.

3. In a mechanism for splicing the lead end of a web on a roll havingadhesive attaching means on said end to a moving Web surface by forcingthe web surface in splicing contact with the lead end or" the web with asplicing mechanism, the combination comprising,

a support for carrying the roll,

means for varying the speed of rotation of the roll,

a rotatable member rotating with the roll,

and means for measuring the time duration for a circumferential lengthof a radial sector of the memher to pass a speed measuring locationhaving a predetermined radial position located radially as a function ofthe roll diameter, so that the speed of the roll can be changed to matchthe speed of a travelling Web for operating the splicing mechanism whenthe roll speed equals the web speed.

4. A mechanism for determining the surface speed of rotating rolls ofdifferent diameters in a paper machine having means for rotating therolls comprising,

a rotatable disc rotatable with the roll,

first and second radially extending slots in the roll defining a sectortherebetween,

a light sensor for being actuated with the passage of said slots,

means for positioning said sensor at a radial position which variescorresponding to the diameter of the roll,

and means for measuring the time duration between actuations of saidsensor.

5. A mechanism for splicing the lead end of a web on a roll havingadhesive attaching means on said end to a moving Web surface by asplicer comprising,

a support for carrying the roll,

a rotatable disc mounted on the support for rotation with the rollhaving circumferentially spaced radial slots therein,

a light sensitive pulse receiver positioned adjacent said slots,

a light source positioned on the opposite side of said disc relative tothe pulse receiver,

a pulse counter connected to the pulse receiver for measuring the lengthof time between the rotational passage of said slots and providing afirst signal indicative of surface speed of the roll,

a carrier for said pulse receiver and light source mount ed for radialreciprocation relative to the roll,

means for moving said carrier radially,

a lock for holding said carrier in a radial position,

a sensor member movably carried on said carrier between a roll surfaceengaging position and a retracted position,

an air cylinder connected to said sensor member for moving it betweensaid positions,

a lock operating switch operated to engage the lock and hold the carrierwhen the sensor member engages the roll surface,

and means for measuring the speed of travel of the Web and providing asecond signal which may be compared with said first signal,

whereby the travelling web may be moved against the Web end by thesplicer when the speed of the roll is equal to the speed of thetravelling web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,904,571 Tomlin Apr. 18, 1933 2,194,140 Doyle et al Mar. 19, 19402,212,812 Horton Aug. 27, 1940 2,386,344 Roesen Oct. 9, 1945 2,536,153Bishop Jan. 2, 1951 2,596,189 Wieking May 13, 1952 2,617,606 WhatmoreNov. 11, 1952 2,621,865 Wieking Dec. 16, 1952 2,899,143 Crosfield et a1.Aug. 11, 1959 2,998,205 Francik Aug. 29, 1961 3,025,013 Harding et al.Mar. 13, 1962 3,042,332 Astley July 3, 1962

1. A MECHANISM FOR DETERMINING THE SURFACE SPEED OF ROTATING ROLLS OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS IN A PAPER MACHINE HAVING MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROLLS COMPRISING, A SUPPORT MOUNTING A ROLL FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, A ROTATABLE MEMBER ROTATING WITH THE ROLL, AND MEANS FOR MEASURING THE TIME DURATION FOR A CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH OF A RADIAL SECTOR OF THE MEMBER TO PASS A SPEED MEASURING LOCATION HAVING A PREDETERMINED RADIAL POSITION LOCATED RADIALLY AS A FUNCTION OF THE DIAMETER OF THE ROLL. 